AWS Welding Coordination & QA Endorsement

AWS states that endorsements are supplemental inspection credentials available to all AWS Certified Welding Inspectors (CWIs) and Senior Certified Welding Inspectors (SCWIs). You should therefore hold an active CWI or SCWI certification before applying. Confirm current eligibility wording in the AWS endorsement catalog before submitting anything.

The AWS catalog describes it as covering the essential aspects of welding quality assurance and coordination, ensuring proficiency in these areas, and says it aligns with industry standards and best practices for welding quality management. AWS does not publish a detailed subject-weight breakdown on the page text available here, so treat the catalog description as your starting syllabus.

AWS lists the endorsement examination as a Prometric exam. The same source notes that AWS conducts CWI Part A and Part C through computer-based testing at more than 450 Prometric Exam Centers worldwide. Endorsement pricing notes also mention a seat fee per part for Prometric initial and reexam endorsements, so budget for testing fees beyond the application price.

AWS publishes endorsement exam pricing in member and non-member columns, and notes the price covers all endorsements except Structural Drawing Reading. Additional ATF fees apply for practical Part B exams. Because AWS states prices are subject to change without notice and full payment must accompany a completed application, verify the current figure on the AWS price list before paying.

The CWI certification is valid for nine years, with renewal applications due at years three and six after the initial activation date. AWS states that endorsements are vital for CWI and SCWI recertification, and lists endorsement exams taken before the ninth year among recertification routes. Plan endorsement timing with your renewal cycle in mind.

AWS does not publish a pass rate or difficulty rating for this endorsement, so any difficulty claim would be speculation. A sensible order is: read the endorsement description and reference materials in the AWS catalog, build a study outline around quality assurance and coordination topics, then review Prometric scheduling and exam rules so logistics do not cost you time.

No failure data is published, so treat these as practical risks rather than statistics. Candidates often under-prepare because the endorsement looks small, study generic inspection content instead of the quality assurance and coordination scope, and overlook administrative steps such as required documentation, correct fees, and full payment with the application, which AWS says is required for processing.

The source text available here does not state a retake policy, number of attempts, or waiting period for endorsement exams. It does reference Prometric reexam endorsement pricing and seat fees, which implies reexamination is possible. Confirm the current retake rules and any waiting period directly with AWS before scheduling a second attempt.

AWS states that applicants who submit their application to AWS headquarters by email as a PDF or by mail carrier on paper are subject to an additional processing fee. To avoid that charge, apply through the standard online pathway at my.aws.org, where AWS says you can enter information, submit documentation and a photo, register, and pay.

No. This page is an independent study resource written for exam preparation and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the American Welding Society. Requirements, fees, editions, and policies change, and AWS states prices are subject to change without notice, so verify every detail against the official AWS certification pages before you apply.